New Icelandic Film Festival Starts in Reykjavik

If you’re fortunate enough to be in the quaint little capital of Iceland, you’re in for a treat. The Stockfish European Film Festival has just started in Reykjavik’s Bíó Paradís. The festival aims to bring European films to the people of Reykjavik, so they can become even more arty and cultured than they already are (I’m not sure that’s even possible. Iceland is considered one of the most creative parts of the world).

The Iceland Film Centre had this to say:

The festival opened with a screening of Jens Östberg’s Blowfly Park, which was attended by the director himself and the film’s star, Sverrir Gudnason (a recent winner of a Swedish Academy Award for this role). Other highlights in the 40-film program include the Iranian vampire film A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Jean-Luc Godard’s Goodbye to Language, the Polish Oscar winner Ida and Berlinale winner Black Coal, Thin Ice. This first edition of the festival brought many guests to town, such as the acclaimed French director Rachid Bouchareb; British actress Brenda Blethyn; Norwegian directors Bent Hamer, Eskil Vogt and and Unni Straume; and the legendary American indie producer Christine Vachon. In addition to film screenings, guests have been treated to a variety of master classes, workshops and seminars.

The festival’s board consists of Fridrik Thor Fridriksson (chairman), Gudrún Edda Thórhannesdóttir (the Association of Icelandic Film Producers), Dögg Mósesdóttir (the Society of Women in Filmmaking), Birna Hafstein (the Icelandic Actors Guild), Sigrídur Rósa Bjarnadóttir (the Icelandic Filmmakers Association) and Sjón (the Icelandic Dramatists Union). Sponsors include the city of Reykjavík; the EU Info Centre; the European Commission; the Icelandic Film Centre; the Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science and Culture; and many other local and foreign partners.